Tippie Leads

CEOs face a unique kind of risk—the growing expectation to speak out on social and political issues. In this episode, Tippie’s Michael Durney unpacks the high-stakes decisions leaders must make when navigating these moments. You’ll also hear from Robin Therme, President of CIVCO Medical Solutions, about the tough conversations that have shaped her leadership and the lessons she’s learned along the...

Entrepreneurs face personal risks that can shape the course of their careers and businesses—from choosing the right co-founder to betting on a bold pivot or putting their reputation on the line. In this episode, we start with a special alumni story from Nate Kaeding, former Hawkeye and NFL kicker turned entrepreneur, as he shares lessons from opening restaurants and revitalizing local spots like t...

In this episode, we shift from large-scale risks to the personal risks we face every day—like cybersecurity. Tippie’s Mike Colbert, an award-winning faculty member, shares how he’s helping students navigate digital threats and protect their information. Then, MBA student Casey Howard takes us on a personal journey, revealing how a transformative experience led him to pursue a career in cybersecuri...

In this episode, Tippie’s Richard Peter explores the surprising resistance consumers have toward driving sensors—devices that could encourage safer driving and lower insurance premiums yet have struggled to gain widespread adoption. Then, Tippie undergrad Ella Borho takes us on a lighter journey, sharing a humorous story about the everyday risks of taking the bus. It’s a fun reminder that even the...

Not all risks come from storms—some stem from political and economic shifts. For some, change means opportunity; for others, uncertainty. With the election behind us, how can we navigate risk beyond voting? Tippie’s Tom Gruca, through the Iowa Electronic Markets, has developed a remarkably accurate way to predict outcomes. In this episode, he explains how these markets help organizations manage ri...

Natural disasters disrupt entire industries and supply chains, delaying critical relief. How can we ensure supplies reach victims quickly? And how can companies like Walmart and organizations like the Red Cross respond effectively? Tippie professor Ann Campbell joins us to explore these questions—because logistics shape more than disaster response; they shape daily life. From managing supply chain...

Natural disasters are a major risk, often striking without warning. Recent events like the LA wildfires and Iowa’s 2020 derecho impact victims, rescuers, and insurers, creating ripple effects across the industry. To kick off our new season, we’ll hear from Tippie Professor Martin Grace, chair and faculty director of the Vaughan Institute for Risk Management and Insurance, who studies the impact of...

Tippie Leads will be back with an all-new season starting March 26th. This season, we’re taking on RISK—from the policies that protect us to the natural disasters that disrupt industries and even the risks we take (or don’t) when speaking up at work. Through faculty research, student and alumni stories, and actionable insights, we’ll explore how risk shapes decision-making, leadership, and busines...

Season Two of Tippie Leads is underway and we can’t wait to share it with you later this spring. In the meantime, we wanted to share the story of a Tippie alum who passed away in 2023. As you'll learn, Doug Slotten led a remarkable life. From his time at the University of Iowa to his service in Vietnam and his remarkable career with the FCC, Doug’s story is one of resilience, sacrifice, and unwave...

When organizations hire new people, can they really predict if their employees will be successful and engaged? We often look to one's previous experience as our gauge for predicting success and engagement at work. In our final episode of season one, we'll hear from Chad Van Iddekinge about why we overvalue experience in our new hires and what else organizations can do to predict new hire success....

Warning: This episode discusses themes of intimate partner violence, which may be distressing for some listeners. Please prioritize your well-being and take care as you listen. Intimate partner violence is often perceived as a private issue. But in reality, it affects virtually every aspect of a victim’s life, including their work life. So, what role can organizations play in the understanding and...

If you’ve ever worked for a toxic boss, you know how damaging it can be. So should you forgive a manager who tries to make amends for their bad behavior? Tippie's Steve Courtright will kick things off by sharing his new research on toxic bosses — what to do if you have one and how to make sure you don’t become one! Then we’ll have some fun by hearing anonymous horror stories about toxic bosses fro...

Turnover is an expensive problem for organizations. What makes people quit? It turns out that proactive employees are more likely to leave for a new job out of frustration with hassles like office politics, lack of resources, red tape, unclear work roles, and other workplace hindrances. At the same time, those proactive employees are more likely to be motivated by responsibility, complex tasks, an...

One way to increase employee engagement? Side hustles. Nearly 44 million U.S. workers are currently running a variety of side hustles. But how can you manage a side hustle in a way that brings maximum benefits without affecting your full-time job? Jennifer Nahrgang's research illustrates what it takes to make side hustles work for both workers and employers while exploring the benefits of side hus...

For some, a job is a calling — a part of their identity that informs how they live their life and goes far beyond just paying the bills. Those who find meaning in their work fall into two camps: (1) those who felt called to their positions and worked their lives toward that goal, or (2) those who — through exploration — almost stumbled into their calling by working a job they were able to infuse w...

Remote work is here to stay. And while there are lots of positives for both employees and organizations, working virtually brings a new set of challenges. Zoom fatigue has become a widespread issue, leading to exhaustion, decreased productivity, and burnout. Research from Tippie's Emily Campion sheds light on Zoom fatigue and offers practical solutions for combatting it. Then we'll bring this issu...

With employee engagement decreasing, employee burnout is increasing. Why? In part, because people feel unfocused due to the many different tasks they're juggling, and more people are also working in more isolated settings. Daniel Newton's research on how astronauts working in the international space station stay focused on multiple tasks while in the isolation of outer space may hold some keys for...

Introducing Tippie Leads — stories from the University of Iowa’s Tippie College of Business that will change the way you work and lead. Hosted by Nick Westergaard, each season of Tippie Leads will focus on a "grand challenge” in today’s changing world of work. In our first season, we're looking at employee engagement with groundbreaking faculty research, student and alumni stories, actionable insi...